Why did Apple not give 4GB RAM on the 9.7" iPad Pro ?

[oldmacs]

The very same people who saying the Air ran perfectly, with 1 gig or RAM(Zboater, max(Tim), etc...) are same ones saying that there are no issues, nor will there be for many years to come, with 2 gigs of RAM.

They were wrong then, and they will be proven wrong again. Safari and multitasking are present day examples of hitting the limit. It's only going to get worse over time.

Had they NOT called it a 'Pro', or put 3 gigs of RAM in it, this whole debate goes away.

I agree its ridiculous. RAM is obviously not the only limiting factor, but it has often been one. Its the reason why the iPod Touch 4 was left for dead much before the iPhone 4 was (same processing and GPU power, but double the ram).

Its an annoying situation. I have a family member who would ideally like to upgrade his iPad 2, but I can't recommend any iPad to him. The Air 2 is too old at this point, and the Pro is expensive and at that price, the missing ram is not acceptable. Given its the double ram and performance that the iPad 2 had over the iPad 1 that sealed its longevity, it seems silly to buy a product that may not last as long. Imagine if Apple had put an A5 + 256MB of ram in the iPad 2, back in 2011... It would not have lasted long.

 

[Count Blah]

Honestly oldmacs, I'd tell the family member to get an Air 2, if they could find a good deal on one. If they are living on an iPad 2 today, the Air 2 should still be chugging along for a couple of years. Don't expect multitasking to be worth a damn sooner than that though.

You know, about what you would expect from a NON-Pro device

Like you my friend, I like doing tech on the cheap/making them last. And this Pro does NOT do it for me either. 3Gigs of RAM, and I would have been sold.

 

[oldmacs]

Honestly oldmacs, I'd tell the family member to get an Air 2, if they could find a good deal on one. If they are living on an iPad 2 today, the Air 2 should still be chugging along for a couple of years. Don't expect multitasking to be worth a damn sooner than that though.

You know, about what you would expect from a NON-Pro device

Like you my friend, I like doing tech on the cheap/making them last. And this Pro does NOT do it for me either. 3Gigs of RAM, and I would have been sold.

I would have been sold on 3GB or 4GB of ram.

Not sure what to do with my Dad. He wants something that is going to last him at least 5 years just like his iPad 2 has. Not sure how good the Air 2 will be in 2021....

I also am on an iPad 2, as I honestly can't afford something that won't last me. The best deal for me would have been getting the Air 2 when it was new, but back then I didn't need a new iPad Looks like I'll be waiting till next year. If I got super lucky, iOS 10 will have limited iPad 2 support (given around 40 percent of the installed iPads are still iPad Mini 1/iPad 2s) or there will be more 9.x releases for older hardware only.

 

[ZBoater]

The very same people who saying the Air ran perfectly, with 1 gig or RAM(Zboater, max(Tim), etc...) are same ones saying that there are no issues, nor will there be for many years to come, with 2 gigs of RAM...

No, not years. YEAR. Only one. Next year version 2 will come out and I will get that one. And it will ALSO run perfectly.

 

[stulaw11]

No, not years. YEAR. Only one. Next year version 2 will come out and I will get that one. And it will ALSO run perfectly.

Of course, no one wants to be happy with here and now. But rather think Apple made some silent promise their iPads will last people 5 year or something. I have NEVER EVER seen any promise or statement by Apple how long a device will work for someone for.

This is all made up artificially by the trolls around here to call everyone Apple apologists.

 

[thadoggfather]

Couple things irk me about iPP9.7

2GB,
..Lack of Force Touch is more than fine for me as an understatement but noted,
that protruding camera, FUGLY!!! can't believe it crept its way into the iPad product line I was hoping we'd be done with this mess for everything post-6S,
32GB base for $100 premium then quantum leap to 128GB, I could get by on 32GB since all my iPads until Air2 were 16GB, but 64GB for $599 wouldn't be unreasonable
128 is too much and 32 feels too little after now doing 64, though I'm sure I could still conceivably get by on 16, but limiting as the power opens up on these tablets to install apps of course and media. usually use it to surf more than anything, but the ability to put apps on is nice. I know the same problem applies to the iPad Pro 12.9" but still it needs to be stated, not a fan of this structure

its an obvious cash grab for me, maybe not of iPad3 proportions, but it reeks of overhaul even so

I'm sure its a fine product, and Air1/iPad2/3/4 people should absolutely leap if so inclined,

2GB, to get back to things, still is insane! They redesigned the SoC and scalped it of RAM and had the audacity to retain the Pro moniker, when it's really an iPad air 3 adding to consumer confusion, I think this could hurt pro sales since when a child wants an iPad, could get double storage and A9x, etc for $100 more, but the name "Pro" will turn people off "you dont need that pro iPad, you will just be surfing and watching netflix" I could hear parents saying that a lot,

call it what you will a re-design is about due, as much as I love my Air2 design. especially slapping pro over the same design, reminds me of 13" aluminum MacBooks getting the Pro badge over time and becoming the aluminum 13" MBP. it feels... sorta lame.

Thats probably the most irritating things of all my complaints, personally. 2GB OF RAM!

They really are holding onto the RAM and NAND dilemmas for all its worth, and its worth a lot!

Sad that a $149 device and budgetary $399 unsubsidized iPhone ships with the same amount of RAM (apple tv4/ 5SE) as this truly premium in pricing device, and that the NAND is also matched between iPP line and ATV4

Also sad that they skimp when tablet sales are dwindling and refresh cycles for people are widening, we'll see

I still want to try one

curious about this true tone stuff, the 2x as loud speakers since my Air2 is loud as heck, and just A9x horsepower all together,

Still, can't help but feel.. meh

Glad to have gotten on an Air2 64 sale for $399 back in the Fall, either way in a good spot. I'm jailbreak dependent, love upgrades, but dont like forking over for the tablet since its a casual device for me-- a casual device i really like, but its idling isn't because it has A8x and this one has A9x, etc still loving the power over the mini2 i had for a while (air1 specs essentially)

 

[oldmacs]

Of course, no one wants to be happy with here and now. But rather think Apple made some silent promise their iPads will last people 5 year or something. I have NEVER EVER seen any promise or statement by Apple how long a device will work for someone for.

This is all made up artificially by the trolls around here to call everyone Apple apologists.

Not all of us are loaded to the point that we can shell out $1350 for an iPad that we all know doesn't have the best specs that Apple could have put in. I'm not expecting crazy levels of specs, but just matching the 12.9 inch iPad pro on ram would have been good.

There is no promise made by Apple but the iPad 2 has lasted over 5 years now, and in what world would buying an iPad that will cost $400 more than my last and possibly not last as long be a good idea?

The reason the iPad 2 has lasted a long time was that it was a major improvement over the iPad 1 in terms of Ram, CPU and GPU. Had it included 256 MB of ram, it would have been stuffed. This iPad has ticked the CPU and GPU boxes but not the RAM boxes. Given you can't upgrade your iPad at all, in the best interests of both being as eco friendly as a customer and also being economical with money, the only thing you can do is hope that Apple puts in good specs such that you can get as long as possible out of your hardware.

 

[thadoggfather]

how can they even claim its same power as iPP12.9? The horsepower of any hardware is CPU/RAM, and GPU but the brains are the SoC, of course. That's silly, but not surprising, since Apple is notorious for using RAM multiple gens in a row, I don't think there's even been one instance of a product line leaping RAM after just one generation run with it, they have to do it twice.


iPhone 1=128
3g=128
3gs=256
4=512
4s=512
5=1
5s=1
6=1 (3 times of 1GB not cool)
6s=2

iPad1= 256
2= 512
3= 1 (ok , got me there, but arguably needed to power the retina screen and 3 was no screamer on performance let's be real, the thing probably wouldn't run on 512)
4= 1
Air1=1
Air2= 2
Air3/iPP9.7 = 2 (is it really a surprise? no, but still sad)

 

[Count Blah]

The horsepower of any hardware is CPU/RAM

The CPU/GPU is the engine, the RAM is the fuel. Apple simply doesn't want us going very far, in the 9.7" 'Pro'

 

[ZBoater]

I remember when the Air 2 came out, and it's 2GB was the second coming of Christ and how it solved world hunger. And now 2GB can't even run 2 Safari tabs.

Geez Louise.

 

[oldmacs]

I remember when the Air 2 came out, and it's 2GB was the second coming of Christ and how it solved world hunger. And now 2GB can't even run 2 Safari tabs.

Geez Louise.

I don't think anyone (except people who do high end image editing) are saying that 2GB is not enough at the moment. People are talking about the FUTURE. Not all of us can buy a new iPad whenever, so what we buy now needs to last. 2GB of ram was great 1.5 years ago, and is still good today, but tech matches on. Just like once 512MB of ram was the bees knees.

 

[stulaw11]

Not all of us are loaded to the point that we can shell out $1350 for an iPad that we all know doesn't have the best specs that Apple could have put in. I'm not expecting crazy levels of specs, but just matching the 12.9 inch iPad pro on ram would have been good.

There is no promise made by Apple but the iPad 2 has lasted over 5 years now, and in what world would buying an iPad that will cost $400 more than my last and possibly not last as long be a good idea?

The reason the iPad 2 has lasted a long time was that it was a major improvement over the iPad 1 in terms of Ram, CPU and GPU. Had it included 256 MB of ram, it would have been stuffed. This iPad has ticked the CPU and GPU boxes but not the RAM boxes. Given you can't upgrade your iPad at all, in the best interests of both being as eco friendly as a customer and also being economical with money, the only thing you can do is hope that Apple puts in good specs such that you can get as long as possible out of your hardware.

Shelling out $1350 is one's own conscious choice then for the highest model they make and the expensive Apple accessories; as if Apple has a gun to one's head.

They start at $599; a whopping $100 more max than last model. The Air 2 was $499/599/699 16gb/64gb/128gb WIFI. The IPP 9.7 is $599/749 32/128gb; so the 128 is really $50 more than the Air 2 was when released.

Cellular was $629/729/829 16/64/128 and is now 729/879 32/128gb. Again $100/50 more than the outgoing models.

And that $100 on the lowest storage isnt directly comparable as its doubled now. So if 16gb was too little then you were already at 599/729 to begin with and same price as the IPP 9.7


And anyone THAT worried about next year just don't buy one this year and wait until March 2017. Very very simple answer.

For many it's a business tool to make more money they may have otherwise not had and can afford to upgrade. If it's simply a media toy and for videos and games for a kid then dont buy it now.

Again because something happened to last someone 5 years doent mean that it ho it was intended. Tech isnt making the 2-3-4-5 times per year jump it was years ago with iPad 1 and 2. There is just no comparison.

 

[oldmacs]

Shelling out $1350 is one's own conscious choice then. they start at $599; a whopping $100 more than last year.

Anyone THAT worried about next year just don't buy one this year and wait until March 2017. Very very simple answer.

For many it's a business tool to make more money they may have otherwise not had and can afford to upgrade. If it's simply a media toy and for videos and games for a kid then dont buy it now.

They cost a fair bit more than that in Australia. Not my conscious choice for Apple to A) lift prices higher than the exchange rate and GST and B) get rid of the 64GB model, thus making it close to $400 more than what an iPad Air 2 would have cost, which in itself was more than iPads before it.

If Apple had decided not to be their usual penny pinching selves, then this conversation would never have happened. Unless you're crazy enough to believe that Apple has put 2GB of ram in this thing to 'benefit' customers, then you'll know that its to save money and increase margins. I fail to see how this is a customer issue as people are trying to label it. Buying something that you know doesn't have the specs that it should have in combination with a higher price just makes zero sense.

For many its also a tool that gets purchased to assist with all sorts of things, and it needs to last a long time. In my position, it is my university tool, and my existing tool is starting not to the the job I need.

 

[thadoggfather]

I remember when the Air 2 came out, and it's 2GB was the second coming of Christ and how it solved world hunger. And now 2GB can't even run 2 Safari tabs.

Geez Louise.

It's not that , my air2 is great I bought it because it had 2gb of ram in it and mini2 was slacking. I also was ready to return to 9.7 after 2 years, and a full gamut screen against the glass laminated screen with whooping speakers.

It's unacceptable that the same product has twice the ram in the 12.9 released months ago,

People who wanted smaller with 4GB are SOL, and are forced to either wait for another generation to shake out or go Pro12.9, which may not be their preference at all and result in a worse UX

It'd be same outrage if mini2 had less ram than air1, or a compelling reason to go air despite maybe wanting smaller

It'd be same outrage if the plus model of iPhone gets more memory than the regular flagship

I think what's most sad is knowing 4gb is ready to go and on market in iOS but clearly being held back as incentive to buy the next rather than compelling innovative features delineating. Apple world wasn't supposed to be about specs. They've milked it so much that it
Becomes that way. The 6+ refresh page fiasco was irritating. I knew it was a Temp device for the 2gb one and went that route, some people who dont even know anything about specs knew the Plus experience was frustrating between refreshing and music skipping, for a device that was born from the success of iPod,

Most troubling of all, lack of 4GB across iPad line does cause fragmentation, and limits what devs can and are willing to do in order to appeal to all device demographics and have a consistent UX, there are greater implications than saving a few bucks in the cost of materials,


Going back to what' quoted-
its not really fair what you're complaining about:
people get excited about spec bump, and thats deemed a nuisance
people aren't thrilled with same spec 18 months later and price hike, and thats deemed a nuisance.

You've been a member here since 07 same as I , and you post here often, surely you dont just use these devices transactionally and feel completely ambivalent about every corporate decision, you must have an opinion that sways towards positive or negative, rather than neutral

Not making you out to be the scapegoat for 2GB, or an apologist, but I think even within complaining when people are happy or not happy, when reviewers put 2gb as a negative as well, i think its fair for informed consumers to complain too,

also these same people who praise air2's 2gb 18 months ago may not be the same group who condemns the Pro having 2gb as well,

By all accounts, and Moore's Law, it should only be the case that transistors, and the progress of technology, increase coincidentally every 18 months,

 

[stulaw11]

They cost a fair bit more than that in Australia. Not my conscious choice for Apple to A) lift prices higher than the exchange rate and GST and B) get rid of the 64GB model, thus making it close to $400 more than what an iPad Air 2 would have cost, which in itself was more than iPads before it.

If Apple had decided not to be their usual penny pinching selves, then this conversation would never have happened. Unless you're crazy enough to believe that Apple has put 2GB of ram in this thing to 'benefit' customers, then you'll know that its to save money and increase margins. I fail to see how this is a customer issue as people are trying to label it. Buying something that you know doesn't have the specs that it should have in combination with a higher price just makes zero sense.

For many its also a tool that gets purchased to assist with all sorts of things, and it needs to last a long time. In my position, it is my university tool, and my existing tool is starting not to the the job I need.

If people dont like it there are plenty of other tablets on the market to talk with their wallets. Saying the same stuff over and over on some rinkydink (in the scheme of the world) forum is going to cause Apple to do nada.

Complainers are the VAST vast minority of Apple users. Under 1% of 1%

 

[oldmacs]

Again because something happened to last someone 5 years doent mean that it ho it was intended. Tech isnt making the 2-3-4-5 times per year jump it was years ago with iPad 1 and 2. There is just no comparison.

I literally don't care if it was intended, the fact is that the better specced tech is, then the better it will last. Simple. The iPad 2 lasted well because it was well specced, so all one can do now is buy models that are well specced, and unfortunately the Pro 9.7 is poorly specced with ram.

 

[stulaw11]

I literally don't care if it was intended, the fact is that the better specced tech is, then the better it will last. Simple. The iPad 2 lasted well because it was well specced, so all one can do now is buy models that are well specced, and unfortunately the Pro 9.7 is poorly specced with ram.

Then dont buy it. You think Tim Cook is reading by saying it over and over again how you, and others here, disapprove?

No matter how strongly you disapprove the product is released how it is and isn't changing for at least a year.

 

[oldmacs]

If people dont like it there are plenty of other tablets on the market to talk with their wallets. Saying the same stuff over and over on some rinkydink (in the scheme of the world) forum is going to cause Apple to do nada.

Complainers are the VAST vast minority of Apple users. Under 1% of 1%

And you think that I think Apple will change because I complained on a forum? lol. I'm not that stupid. But defending Apple for something which is a cost cutting move is just stupid.
[doublepost=1459390440][/doublepost]

Then dont buy it. You think Tim Cook is reading by saying it over and over again how you, and others here disapprove?

I'm not buying it! What made you think I was buying it? I am expressing my displeasure and my disagreement with posters on this forum who think that Apple is doing people a favour by putting 2GB of ram in this thing.

 

[Fthree]

View attachment 623917

Yeah, I hate my home screen because it's just too useful.

View attachment 623918

And how disgusting is that? You can customise icons and place them wherever you like on the screen! Terrible, I tell you. I suffer every day.


It's time for you to try an Android phone made after 2013.

[/QUOTE]
ok sorry for sounding off in my post. I guess my main point was that for me just being able to swipe with the predictable response apple has given me from app page to app page has been way better than any android device I've ever tested. In all honesty the home screen is kinda irrelevant as most of the time i just search for the app i want anyway.

 

[stulaw11]

And you think that I think Apple will change because I complained on a forum? lol. I'm not that stupid. But defending Apple for something which is a cost cutting move is just stupid.
[doublepost=1459390440][/doublepost]
I'm not buying it! What made you think I was buying it? I am expressing my displeasure and my disagreement with posters on this forum who think that Apple is doing people a favour by putting 2GB of ram in this thing.

Defending? No. But because you dont like something then no one else can? That's some logic.

I dunno why it matters to some if others are ok with their purchase of the device how it is.

 

[oldmacs]

Defending? No. But because you dont like something then no one else can? That's some logic.

I never claimed that, you can like the iPad Pro 9.7, but you can't claim that 4GB of ram is better for the consumer, and there is no defence for Apple increasing their profit margins at the expensive of longevity.

 

[stulaw11]

I never claimed that, you can like the iPad Pro 9.7, but you can't claim that 4GB of ram is better for the consumer, and there is no defence for Apple increasing their profit margins at the expensive of longevity.

We've heard the displeasure for 2 weeks now, its not a secret.

It's also based on pure and utter speculation of a future date and OS version where it may or may not slow down, and upon 20/20 hindsight. As if what happened before must happen again.

 

[oldmacs]

Cellular was $629/729/829 16/64/128 and is now 729/879 32/128gb. Again $100/50 more than the outgoing models.

And that $100 on the lowest storage isnt directly comparable as its doubled now. So if 16gb was too little then you were already at 599/729 to begin with and same price as the IPP 9.7

Not here. $899 for an Air 2 4G in 64 GB which is all I need. Now it is $1350 for a 9.7 Pro with 128GB (need more than 32GB) with 4G. That is a $450 price rise - even if directly comparing the Air 2 with 128GB ($1019), then that is still a price rise of $330. Plus Australians also get hit with $90 extra cost anyway, on top of the currency conversation and our local taxes.

I get the price rise is because its meant to be a pro device, but a pro device should share the 4GB of ram, as part of that price rise.
[doublepost=1459391088][/doublepost]

We've heard the displeasure for 2 weeks now, its not a secret.

It's also based on pure and utter speculation of a future date and OS version where it may or may not slow down, and upon 20/20 hindsight. As if what happened before must happen again.

And? We've also heard the Apple defence for 2 weeks now.

Its based on the last 30 years of computing. Under specced products get slow quicker. Its a fact of the computing world. Unless you think iOS 9 is the last version of iOS that is going to be released, than it is obvious that requirement are going to grow.

 

[stulaw11]

And? We've also heard the Apple defence for 2 weeks now.

Its based on the last 30 years of computing. Under specced products get slow quicker. Its a fact of the computing world. Unless you think iOS 9 is the last version of iOS that is going to be released, than it is obvious that requirement are going to grow.

​

 

[oldmacs]

​

Ok, can't wait for this magical world where mobile computing will stay with 2GB of ram being more than enough for the next 6 or so years Sounds amazing!!! Just like how the 512MB in my iPad 2 is still huge! Heck the 4MB of ram in my 1986 Macintosh Plus is more than enough for today